The rhodium-catalyzed oxidative 1:2 coupling reactions of arylboronic acids or their esters with alkynes smoothly proceed to produce the corresponding annulated products. Of special note, highly substituted, readily soluble, and tractable anthracene and tetracene derivatives can be obtained selectively from 2-naphthyl- and 2-anthrylboron reagents, respectively.
The rhodium-catalyzedoxidative 1:2 coupling reactions of arylboronic acids with alkynes effectively proceeds in the presence of a copper−air oxidant to produce the corresponding annulated products. Of special note, anthracene derivatives can be obtained selectively from 2-naphthylboronic acids.